Bench Assembly

ABSTRACT

A bench assembly includes a frame that extends between ground and an elevated portion spaced apart from the ground. A rail is fixedly secured to the elevated portion. The rail extends parallel to the ground between first and second rail ends. At least one pedestal is secured to the rail and slides between the first and second rail ends. At least one seat is mounted on top of the at least one pedestal allowing a user to slide between the first and second rail ends while seated on the at least one seat. This allows someone sitting on the bench to move along the bench without having to stand up first.

BACKGROUND ART 1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a bench for humans to use for sitting. More particularly, the invention relates to a bench assembly capable of allowing users to move along the bench without standing up first.

2. Description of the Related Art

Traditional benches allow one or more persons to sit. There are times, however, when a person wants to sit on a bench but does not want to be near any other person that might also be using the bench. In these instances, a person must get up and move if the personal space or social distancing space has been breached. There is a need for a bench that facilitates the ability for a bench user to quickly distance himself or herself from other bench users without requiring the person to stand up to move.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bench assembly includes a frame that extends between ground and an elevated portion spaced apart from the ground. A rail is fixedly secured to the elevated portion. The rail extends parallel to the ground between first and second rail ends. At least one pedestal is secured to the rail and slides between the first and second rail ends. At least one seat is mounted on top of the at least one pedestal allowing a user to slide between the first and second rail ends while seated on the at least one seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a bench assembly;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with a stop removed; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the internal elements of the bench assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 , one embodiment of a bench assembly is generally indicated at 10. The bench assembly 10 is a bench that allows multiple people to sit at one time. The bench assembly defines a length A. Unlike a standard bench, which has an elongated horizontal sitting surface, the bench assembly 10 includes at least one seat 12 that is not elongated. It is designed to extend over only a portion of the bench assembly length A. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, there are three seats 12, each designed of a size to have a single person 15 (one person 15 shown in phantom in FIG. 1 ) occupy the seat at a time. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any sized seat to accommodate multiple persons may be incorporated into the design as long as the seat 12 is not as long as the length A of the bench assembly 10. FIG. 1 shows a bench assembly 10 connected to a second bench assembly 10 in end-to-end fashion.

The bench assembly 10 includes a frame, generally shown at 14 in FIG. 3 . The frame 14 extending between ground 16 and an elevated portion 20 spaced apart from the ground 16. In one embodiment (not shown), the frame 14 could be formed to be inserted into the ground 16 to make the location of the bench assembly 10 more permanent. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the frame 14 includes a base 22 with base pads 24 that sits on the ground 16. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the base 22 may sit directly on the ground, avoiding the need for base pads 24. As may be seen when looking at FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base 22 is the widest portion of the frame 14. This is properly engaging the ground 16 in a stable manner.

The frame 14 includes to first 26 and second 30 stops at either end of the bench assembly 10. These stops 26, 30 function as end plates for the bench assembly 10 to enhance the look thereof. Additional functionality of the stops 26, 30 will be discussed in greater detail subsequently.

The bench assembly 10 includes a pedestal 32. The pedestal 32 extends operatively between the frame 14 and the at least one seat 12. The pedestal 32 may define a fixed height or it may be used to adjust the height of the at least one seat 12, as is well known in the art.

A rail 34 is fixedly secured to the elevated portion 20 of the frame 14. In the embodiment shown, there are two rails 34 parallel to each other. The rails 34 also extend parallel to the ground 16 between the first 26 and second 30 rail ends. More specifically, the rails 34 may extend along the entire bench assembly 10. One type of rail 34 that may be employed is a supported smooth rod (SBR) system having model number SBR16-2000 mm manufactured by Cinso. These are supported round rails. While the bench assembly 10 is shown to be linear, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the bench assembly 10 may be extend through a curved plane; in which case, the rails 34 would also extend through curved planes.

The pedestal 32 includes at least one slide 36 that matingly engages the rail 34. The slides 36 provide reduced friction when moving with respect to the rails 34 using lubricants, bearings, and the like. Because there are two rails 34 shown, there are also two rows of slides 36 shown. In FIG. 4 , there are four slides 36 shown—two rows of two slides 36, one row for each of the rails 34 shown. All four slides 36 are fixedly secured to a slide plate 40 of the pedestal 32. Several threaded holes 42 are shown in the slides 36 to provide a standard means for securing the slides 36 to the slide plate 40. One type of slide 36 that may be employed is the SBR Bearing Blocks, also manufactured by Cinso.

A swivel plate 44 is fixedly secured to a top portion of the pedestal 32. A swivel 46 is secured to the swivel plate 44 using bolts, rivets, adhesive, and the like. Threaded holes 50 illustrate that the swivel 46 may be secured to the swivel plate with bolts (not shown). Although not shown in FIG. 4 , the at least one seat 12 is mounted to the swivel 46 giving the at least one seat 12 its second degree of freedom to rotate when the user wants to rotate the at least one seat 12. One type of swivel 44 that may be employed is the Fasmov 7″ Heavy Duty Bar Stool Swivel.

The bench assembly 10 also includes at least one side panel 52 extending between the base 22 and the pedestal 32. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, there are two side panels 52, one on either side of the bench assembly 10 and each side panel 52 is also a part of the frame 14. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in some designs, the at least one side panel 52 may be decorative only or not even included.

The at least one side panel 52 includes extensions 54 that extend up over the rail 34 and a portion of the pedestal 32. This provides some protection for the rails 34 and slides 36 by shield that portion of the bench assembly 10 from debris.

In operation, a person will be able to sit on the at least one seat 12 in its current location on the bench assembly 10 and then slide it to a desired location along the bench assembly 10. Conversely, the person may move the at least one seat 12 prior to sitting on it. This will allow a user to move the at least one seat 12 when another user decides to use another of the at least one seat 12 to space one user from another appropriately as determined by both users.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. 

I claim:
 1. A bench assembly comprising: a frame extending between ground and an elevated portion spaced apart from the ground; a rail fixedly secured to said elevated portion, and extending parallel to the ground between first and second rail ends; at least one pedestal secured to said rail and slidable between said first and second rail ends; and at least one seat mounted on top of said at least one pedestal allowing a user to slide between said first and second rail ends while seated on said at least one seat.
 2. A bench assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame includes a base engageable with the ground to stabilize said bench assembly.
 3. A bench assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said base is wider than said pedestal.
 4. A bench assembly as set forth in claim 3 including at least one side panel extending between said base and said pedestal.
 5. A bench assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a swivel extending between said seat and said pedestal allowing said seat to rotate with respect to said pedestal.
 6. A bench assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rail includes at least one slide slidable along said rail.
 7. A bench assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one pedestal is fixedly secured to said at least one slide.
 8. A bench assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one pedestal is fixedly secured to a plurality of slides.
 9. A bench assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a first stop fixedly secured to said first rail end and a second stop fixedly secured to said second rail end preventing said at least one pedestal from moving past either of said first and second rail ends. 